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SDCC ’12 | Saturday programming schedule released

Saturday’s programming for this year’s Comic-Con International continues the grand “big movie panels” tradition typically associated with the third day of the con. Both Warner Bros. and Marvel Studios are on the schedule for Hall H; no doubt Marvel will have more than just Iron Man 3 to talk about at that 6 p.m. slot. Warner Bros., meanwhile, will talk about Man of Steel in their panel, which will also include The Hobbit and Pacific Rim.

Comic publishers are well represented, with BOOM!, Marvel, DC Comics, Archie, Archaia, Dark Horse, Image, Top Cow, Drawn & Quarterly, Skybound, Vertigo, Top Shelf and more scheduled for various panels on Saturday. CCI also puts the spotlight on Mark Waid, Morrie Turner, Klaus Janson, Stan Goldberg, Gary Gianni, Jim Lee and many more creators, and celebrates anniversaries for Funky Winkerbean, Love & Rockets, Bob the Angry Flower, Courtney Crumrin and the Gays in Comics panel. And don’t forget about the always entertaining masquerade.

Here are some of the comics-related highlights below; visit the Comic-Con website to see the complete schedule.

10:00-11:00 Comic-Con How-To: Anatomy of a Fight Scene, Part One— Stories are about conflict, and there is no purer form of conflict than a good ol’ fisticuffs-style brawl-or sword fight, laser battle, western shootout, or even two chicks pulling each other’s hair. How do you put that much action down on paper and make it not only believable, but enjoyable and exciting to read? Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake a brings you deep inside the violence, breaking it down piece by piece and giving you some tricks you can use to create more realistic and exciting fights. Room 2

10:00-11:00 DC: Talent Search Orientation Session 3— DCE’s VP for art direction and design Mark Chiarello presents an informative orientation session to explain how DCE’s Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of the DC Comics, Vertigo, and MAD magazine brands. If you want to learn what DCE looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional, this is the program for you! To have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory. (Please note: Not all attendees are guaranteed a one-on-one review.) Room 4

10:00-11:00 After Earth— Enter the world of After Earth with an in-depth panel that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the universe of the upcoming film and comic book. With the film now in post-production and set to hit theaters next June, screenwriter Gary Whitta (Book of Eli) and director of photography Peter Suschitzky (The Empire Strikes Back) will discuss the making of the film. They will be joined by comic book artist Beni Lobel (Spanish horror comic anthology Cthulu; G.I. Joe comic books; Torchwood: Web of Lies motion comic), and writers Robert Greenberger (Iron Man, Batman, and Hellboy novels) and Michael Friedman (Star Trek and X-Men novels) — the creators of the comic book After Earth: Innocence, which will introduce Kitai and Cypher Raige (played by Jaden and Will Smith in the After Earth film). Also joining the panel is Eisner Award winner Peter David (Star Trek novels and comic books; The Incredible Hulk), who is writing the After Earth prequel novel and also created the After Earth bible with Greenberger and Friedman. In After Earth, one thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind’s new home. Legendary General Cypher Raige (played by Will Smith) returns from an extended tour of duty to his estranged family, ready to be a father to his 13-year-old son, Kitai (played by Jaden Smith). When an asteroid storm damages Cypher and Kitai’s craft, they crash-land on a now unfamiliar and dangerous Earth. As his father lies dying in the cockpit, Kitai must trek across the hostile terrain to recover their rescue beacon. His whole life, Kitai has wanted nothing more than to be a soldier like his father. Today, he gets his chance. Room 6A

10:00-11:00 DC: The New Wave— With DC Comics-The New 52, Before Watchmen, and The New 52, Wave 2, DC Entertainment is running on all cylinders! But you haven’t seen anything yet-find out about the next exciting event from DC Comics with DC Entertainment co-publisher Dan DiDio (Phantom Stranger) and creators Brent Anderson (Phantom Stranger), Tony Bedard (Sword of Sorcery), Scott Snyder (Talon), and James Tynion IV (Talon). Room 6DE

10:00-11:00 Planet of the Apes in Comics: Past, Present, and Future— Planet of the Apes has come back to comics in a big way thanks to BOOM! Studios! Tom Mason (former editor of Malibu’s Planet of the Apes) and current Planet of the Apes editor Dafna Pleban talk with writers Daryl Gregory, Gabriel Hardman, and Corinna Bechko about their critically acclaimed series. Learn what’s next for Planet of the Apes, as well as secrets behind the past of this comic franchise. Room 9

10:00-11:00 That 70s Panel— A look at comics in the seventies. Some now call it the Bronze Age, but by any name it was an exciting time to be reading comics. Moderator Mark Evanier (Scooby Doo) leads a discussion including Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula), Steve Skeates (Aquaman), Steve Englehart (Batman), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Elliot S! Maggin (Superman), Trevor Von Eeden (Black Lightning), and Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes). Room 23ABC

10:00-11:00 Attack of the Show— G4’s Attack of the Show is your ambassador to the information age-from the technology you want, what you watch, listen to, and play to what the world is talking about right now. Whether it comes from 140 characters, from a 30-second video, or straight from the mouths of today’s trendsetters, visionaries, and pop-culture icons, panelists will tell you what is happening, why you should care, and what will happen next. Candace Bailey, Sara Underwood, Matt Mira, Blair Butler, Attack of the Show executive producers Vinny Rutherford and Joshua Brentano, along with special guests, bring you the closest thing to being on a LIVE Attack of the Show, an interactive Comic-Con panel! You’ll also get a chance to grill the hosts and producers and find out the dirty secrets and television tricks behind Attack of the Show. With over 1,000 shows to choose from, there’s got be something you wanna know! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

10:30-11:30 Marvel Television Presents— Marvel’s head of TV, Jeph Loeb, brings the scoop on season 2 of the hit animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, along with a never-before-seen episode…and a glimpse of the other heroes joining Marvel Universe on Disney XD! Plus, get the update on other hot Marvel Animation Studios projects, including Marvel Knights Animation, Marvel anime-and more surprises from Marvel Television. Room 6BCF

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 303: Super Lawyer Team-Up— You’ve learned the basics and have a better understanding of contracts and agreements. Now it’s time to learn more about some of the more complex issues facing every creator and business owner. Noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the classic The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, returns to address some of the more advanced (and often confusing) issues facing the creative and business communities, particularly in light of the ever-expanding worlds of new media. And this time, he’s not alone, as attorneys David Branfman, David Lizerbram, and Professor Marc Greenberg join him to share insights into some of the more cutting-edge legal issues faced by, and discuss recent legal decisions of importance to, the creators and businesses. The panel will touch on as many of the following topics as time allows: lawsuits and infringements; fair use or misuse; knockoffs, tarnishment, and dilution; satires, parodies, and fair use; blogs, podcasts, tweets, and cybersquatters; and fan art/fan fiction. Plus, time permitting, discussion about recent legal decisions and pending cases that are likely to affect the field of popular culture and how they might play an important role in your creative and business plans. (Note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]) Room 11AB

10:30-11:30 Dark Horse: Bioware— Dark Horse and Bioware have come together once again to provide fans with exclusive news on Dragon Age, and the ever-expanding Mass Effect universe. Join Dark Horse director of public relations Jeremy Atkins and editor Dave Marshall, along with Dragon Age writers David Gaider and Sylvia Feketekuty, BioWare art director Derek Watts, moderator “Evil Chris” Priestly, and a cast of other celebrity geeks and surprise guests for an exciting look into the Dark Horse/BioWare universe. Attendees can be sure to expect a spirited discussion on the ongoing link between comics and gaming, with exclusive news and more! Room 24ABC

10:30-12:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #9: Comics Theory: Sequential Artistry— Jade Hidle (University of California, San Diego) examines how GB Tran’s Vietnamerica uses the comic book genre to provide counter-memories to historical narratives about the U.S. war in Vietnam. Hidle explains how Tran uses the evolving form of the graphic memoir to provide border-blurring, non-linear spatio-temporal frameworks to construct such counter-memories. Keegan Lannon (Aberystwyth University) argues that the dichotomy of words and images is more elastic than theorists such as McCloud, Kunzle, and Groensteen conceive it. Lannon forwards the concept of the grapheme as a way of conceiving of words and pictures as two variants of visual communication. John E. Ingulsrud (Meisei University) and Kate Allen (Meiji University) employ the sociolinguistic concepts of “footing” and “stance” to analyze the many functions of “caricaturization” (the simplification of character images) in manga. Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) provides a response to the scholars’ ideas. Room 26AB

11:00-12:00 Funky Winkerbean’s 40th Anniversary— Comic-Con special guest Tom Batiuk takes you on a humorous and an informative journey through the Funkyverse as he delves into the origin and history of his syndicated comic strip Funky Winkerbean. Joining him is Alex Sinclair, colorist on DC Comics-The New 52’s Justice League, Green Lantern, Earth 2, and Before Watchmen: Comedian and the talented guy who was the primary colorist on Batiuk’s Pulitzer-nominated book Lisa’s Story. Join Tom and Alex for 40 years of Funky. Room 4

11:00-12:00 Archie Comics: The Hottest Publisher in Comics— The era of Archie continues! After another year of dominating the headlines with groundbreaking storylines, innovative storytelling, and the best comics on the market, the Archie gang converges on San Diego to reveal what’s next! The panel includes Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater, co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit, president Mike Pellerito, editor-in-chief Victor Gorelick, cartoonist Dan Parent (Kevin Keller), writer Michael Uslan (Life With Archie), iVerse Media CEO Michael Murphey, MoonScoop Entertainment’s Mike Young, producers Don Murphy and Susan Montford (Real Steel), writer Alex Segura (Archie Meets KISS), writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), and a handful of major, newsworthy surprises! Want to learn everything that’s in store for America’s favorite redheaded teen and all his friends? This is the place to be! Panel attendees will get a copy of the latest issue of the hit Life With Archie series! Room 9

11:00-12:00 comiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital— With over 75 million comics and graphic novels downloaded since its debut, comiXology has revolutionized how people read and buy comic books. Recently hailed by the New York Times as the iTunes of comics, here is your opportunity to discover what is next! Join comiXology cofounders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts for an open discussion on…everything digital. All topics are game! Room 23ABC

11:15-12:30 DC Comics-All Access: OGNs— It’s been a big year for DC Comics’ award-winning, original graphic novels, and it’s only going to get bigger! Get unfiltered access to behind the scenes of your favorite and most talked about original graphic novels Publisher! Joining the all access party will be some of the industry’s top talents, including Anthony Bourdain (Get Jiro!), Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Langdon Foss (Get Jiro!), Geoff Johns (Batman: Earth One), and J. Michael Straczynski (Superman: Earth One), so don’t miss out! Room 6DE

11:30-12:30 Save the Date: Your New Favorite Film— This may be the first comic book film that isn’t based on an actual comic book; instead, Save the Date uses the style and sensibility of indie comics by renowned graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown as a jumping off point to tell a contemporary story of the trials, pain, and happiness of modern love. Explore the challenges and advantages of working in film versus comics with cartoonist/screenplay co-writer Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy, Darth Vader and Son), director Michael Mohan (One Too Many Mornings), and producers Jordan Horowitz (The Kids Are All Right) and Michael Roiff (Waitress), and discover how the cast has been influenced and inspired by comics and geek culture, with Lizzy Caplan (Party Down), Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men), Martin Starr (Freaks & Geeks, Party Down), Geoffrey Arend (500 Days of Summer), and Mark Webber (Scott Pilgrim). Join them for a lively session moderated by Noel Murray (The A.V. Club). Room 5AB

11:30-12:30 Top Cow: We Create…Innovation!— Top Cow’s Comic-Con panels are known for being wall-to-wall jam-packed sessions with exciting announcements, but this year’s panel promises to put all other years to shame. Join Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri and Top Cow president Matt Hawkins announce the biggest, most groundbreaking initiative in their 20-year history and the return of a fan favorite series. Plus special guest Mark Waid (Daredevil, Irredeemable) joins Top Cow to announce an exciting new project. Get the scoop on a big Top Cow film announcement, and if you’re an aspiring creator, you won’t want to miss this panel! Be the first to hear the announcements that will drive Top Cow through the rest of 2012 and beyond, alongside surprise guests, and every attendee will get an exclusive ashcan that is sure to be a collectible! Room 8

11:45-1:00 Quick Draw!— It’s the annual battle-to-the-death with Sharpies at 20 paces. Three of the fastest cartoonists in the world duel with wit and markers, drawing like crazy to create cartoons based on your suggestions and the evil schemes of the Quick Draw! Quizmaster, Mark Evanier! Competing as usual are Sergio Aragonés (MAD magazine, Groo the Wanderer) and Scott Shaw! (The Simpsons), and they’re joined by guest competitor Keith Knight (The K Chronicles), and maybe a few surprises! This is one of the most popular events at Comic-Con, so get there early. Room 6BCF

12:00-1:00 Comic-Con How-To: Supercharge Your deviantART Profile Like the Masters— This superstar lineup of comic, manga, and animators all have something in common besides ridiculous amounts of talent: they are all part of the deviantART community. Over the years they have learned a thing or two about getting the most out of the website, and in this panel they will share their tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your deviantART experience. The panelists are Adam Warren, one of the first manga-influenced artists to go pro back in 1988 (The Dirty Pair, Empowered); Chris Sanders, Lilo & Stich creator (Disney), How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks); Dave Elliott, comics industry veteran, writer and editor of over 10,000 comics projects; Jim Zubkavich, CEO, Udon Entertainment; Mark Brooks, Marvel Comics; Yuumei Yan, digital artist, cyber-activist; and panel moderator Angelo Sotira, CEO and co-founder, deviantART.com. Room 2

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Morrie Turner— Comic-Con special guest Morrie Turner, creator of the Wee Pals comic strip-now in its 47th year of national syndication-will “Confess All” to Keith “K-man” Knight in this probing, riveting exposé of what keeps Morrie crankin’ out his creativity on a daily basis at the fresh, young age of 88.5. Come laugh and learn, and remember to “Keep the Faith!” Room 4

12:00-1:00 Shonen Jump Alpha Panel— The new Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, North America’s only near-simultaneous digital manga magazine, gives fans the ultimate digital experience of reading the best manga every week, with official releases of chapters from Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, and more! Special panelists from Japan Yoshihisa Heishi (editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump, founding editor of Yu-Gi-Oh!), Koji Yoshida (editor of Death Note), and Kengo Monji (editor of Bakuman) will share the latest news, expert opinions, and a behind-the scenes look into the manga world. To top it off, they’ll have a heated Q&A showdown with the SJ Alpha editors! Room 7AB

12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Session: Charlie Adlard— With his work on The Walking Dead, Charlie Adlard has proved to be a master of abstract anatomy, suspenseful storytelling, and the imaginative depiction of a familiar but terrifying world. Get a glimpse of his approach to creating the definitive zombie narrative of the 21st century at this CBLDF Master Session. The pieces created will be auctioned off at CBLDF’s Art Auction tonight. Room 11AB

12:00-1:00 The Naked Truth About Tarzan and Jane: The First 100 Years of Spectacular Tarzan Imagery, and One of Literature’s Best-Loved Couples as They Enter Their Second Century— Bestselling novelist Robin Maxwell (Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan) and author Scott Tracy Griffin (Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration) gather with illustrator Joe Jusko (The Art of Joe Jusko) to discuss these iconic literary characters. Join them for a presentation and Q&A session hosted by Jim Sullos, president of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Incorporated, the official licensing entity for Tarzan and John Carter of Mars. Room 25ABC

12:00-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #10: Focus on Steve Englehart— Steve Englehart (CAC and Comic-Con Special Guest) has been the lead writer for both Marvel and DC on several occasions and a founding father of Malibu’s Ultraverse. His redefinition of Batman and the Joker as mature adults influenced how the characters were depicted in both comics and film for the last three decades. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight) moderates a discussion of Englehart’s stellar career writing the adventures of Captain America, Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Coyote, Night Man, the Justice League, and dozens of other characters. Room 26AB

12:30-1:30 D+Q: Canada and Comics— Creators Kate Beaton, Jeff Lemire, Doug Savage, Eisner Spirit of Retailers Award judge Calum Johnston (of Strange Adventures), Jessica Campbell of Drawn & Quarterly, and moderator Chris Butcher of TCAF and The Beguiling gather to talk about how, over the past 10 years, the Canadian comics scene has changed wildly and no longer plays second fiddle to its southern neighbor. Canada now boasts an equally vibrant coast-to-coast scene with major artists, major companies, major retailers, and major festivals. Key players discuss how this change came about. Room 5AB

1:00-2:30 Comic-Con How-To: Graphic Novels from Idea to Finish— Artist Brian Haberlin explains how to create a graphic novel, using his soon-to-be-released book Anomaly as a test case. Subjects discussed include idea to script, page format, panel layout, art style, distribution, and much more. Digital pioneer and guru to much of the graphic arts/comics community, Haberlin is also the tutorial creator for international magazines such as 3DWorld, Imagine FX, and Photoshop User, and owner of Digitalarttutorials.com. Room 2

1:00-2:00 Top Shelf Productions— An all-star lineup of award-winning indie cartoonists are on hand as Top Shelf enters its 15th year of publishing. Chris Ross reports on Top Shelf’s groundbreaking digital program, Ed Piskor hacks into his book Wizzywig, Jeff Lemire plumbs the depths of The Underwater Welder, Eddie Campbell spins a golden yarn about The Lovely Horrible Stuff, Nate Powell makes a historic announcement about an unprecedented new project, and James Kochalka introduces exclusive footage from his upcoming animated series SuperF*ckers! Join moderator Leigh Walton for an unmissable hour with Top Shelf talent. Room 4

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Stan Goldberg— Cartoonist, colorist, and Comic-Con special guest Stan Goldberg was there at the beginning of the Marvel Age of Comics, designing the color schemes for characters such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and many others. As an artist, he is best known for his over 45 years of work at Archie Comics as one of the Archie artists. Stan talks about his career and what he’s doing next in this spotlight panel. Room 9

1:00-2:00 CBLDF: The Fight To Defend Manga— Meet the man who stood up to Canada Customs to prove manga is not a crime! In 2010, American citizen Ryan Matheson was illegally detained and falsely charged with importation of child pornography for humor and fantasy manga on his laptop computer. Earlier this year, all charges against Ryan were dropped, thanks to his willingness to stand up for his rights, and the CBLDF’s work to aid his defense. Come meet Ryan and learn about how manga is being attacked by the authorities in the United States and Canada, hear his story and find out what you can do to protect your rights! Room 11AB

1:00-2:00 Northstar: Coming Out to Getting Married!— Northstar, the first openly gay superhero in mainstream comics and a member of both the X-Men and Alpha Flight, came out of the closet 20 years ago-and this year he ties the knot! Northstar has led a challenging life, facing villains, personal challenges, family rivalries, disease, death, and accusations of being put back in the closet. Now Northstar starts a major new chapter in his life, with a high-profile wedding. Prism Comics celebrates Northstar and explores how he and the comics community’s attitudes toward LGBTQ characters have changed over the years. Moderator Chance Whitmire (Fanboys of the Universe) delves into the past and the bright future of everyone’s favorite gay mutant with guests David Gabriel (VP of sales, Marvel Comics), Phil Jimenez (New X-Men), Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men), Scott Lobdell (Uncanny X-Men), and Jase Peeples (The Advocate magazine). Room 25ABC

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #11: Pioneers of Comics Scholarship— Randy Duncan (The Power of Comics) leads a discussion with some of the scholars who laid the foundations for the field of comics studies: Paul Gravett (Graphic Novels: Stories to Change Your Life), David Kunzle (History of the Comics Strip), John Lent (Cartooning in Africa; Cartooning in Latin America), and Joseph Witek (Comic Books as History). The Pioneers discus how they began researching comics, the contribution they feel they have made to the field, and how comics studies should continue to develop as a field or discipline. Room 26AB

1:00-2:00 Little Lulu Fan Group— One of the most memorable kids’ comics ever created, Little Lulu has gone on to generate a fan following around the world. Learn more about this classic comics character, and the renewed interest in the other delightful works of the great John Stanley, and join in for the annual scripted reading of a Golden Age Little Lulu story. All are welcome! Room 28E

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Gail Carriger— New York Times bestselling author-and Comic-Con special guest-Gail Carriger (The Parasol Protectorate Series) and her literary agent Kristin Nelson (president and senior literary agent at Nelson Literary Agency) discuss breaking into publishing, converting a novel into a manga, writing steampunk, drinking tea, and the importance of octopuses. Followed by Q&A. Silly questions welcome. Room 5AB

1:30-2:30 Minimates Turn 10: Small Toys, Big Plans— Some of the team behind the popular Minimates line are here to unveil new products and answer your questions about the 2-inch, fully articulated mini-figures. From Marvel Comics to Battle Beasts to The Walking Dead, Diamond Select Toys director Chuck Terceira, Art Asylum founder Digger Mesch, and marketing supervisor Zach Oat will share insider info about all their upcoming lines, as well as submit to a Q&A session and debut the next stop-motion animated Pirate Raiders episode. Plus, there’ll be a Minimates prize drawing at the end of the panel. Room 8

1:30-3:00 30th Anniversary of Love and Rockets— For 30 years Los Bros Hernandez have entranced comics readers around the world with their adventures of Maggie, Hopey, Luba, and the entire Love and Rockets cast of characters. Comic-Con special guests Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, and Mario Hernandez join with Fantagraphics Books co-publisher Gary Groth to talk about this award-winning series of comics and its decades-spanning durability. Room 24ABC

1:45-2:45 Marvel Video Games— Learn all about Gazillion’s Marvel Heroes MMO, Ubisoft’s Avengers: Battle for Earth and more future Marvel games-including an announcement from Activision and High Moon Studios that is sure to be a hit! Q&A will follow. Room 6A

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Gary Gianni— Comic-Con special guest Gary Gianni discusses his work illustrating one of Ray Bradbury’s last published books, painting the Game of Thrones 2014 calendar, and the future of illustrated storytelling in the digital realm. Room 4

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski— Joe has been coming to SDCC for decades (despite popular requests) with news and announcements. If all goes as it should between press-time and this panel, he will be making the most important announcement of his career (no, not his retirement-despite popular requests). If all does not go as it should, he will be giving a talk about migratory bird patterns. So come roll the dice with J. Michael Straczynski! Room 7AB

2:00-3:00 Image Comics Experience— Join publisher Eric Stephenson and a panel of surprise guests an exclusive look at what’s coming up for Image in 2013! An absolutely don’t miss event for anyone wanting to be among the first to hear some of the biggest comics announcements of the year! Room 25ABC

Comic-Con Group — Markel Tumlin, Pamela Jackson, Michael Lapins, and Rob Ray (San Diego State University) explore the symbiotic relationship between comics, Comic-Con, and San Diego State University. Lincoln Geraghty (University of Portsmouth) analyses the increasing popularity of international superhero and science fiction franchises in the American media industry, and the importance of the San Diego Comic-Con in the global circulation of popular media texts.

Batworld Group — Benjamin J. Villarreal (New Mexico Highlands University) explains how Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Noel, a retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with DC universe characters, uses the conventions of the Victorian “Christmas crawler” genre. Eric Bruce (Western Oregon University) uses a biopsychosocial evaluation of Batman/Bruce Wayne’s health to foster a curiosity about one’s own health risk factors. Ashley Pitcock (Henderson State University) asks how parent/child relational issues, the need for achievement, and Kohlberg’s conventional and postconventional moral development concepts can explain why Stephanie Brown’s superhero career evolved from teenage rebellion into a higher purpose. Benjamin Graves (Henderson State University) analyzes Batman’s dependence on parental figure, mentor, and trusted friend Alfred Pennyworth. Mitchell Cullins (Henderson State University) examines psychological findings on real-world heroism, altruism, and sensation-seeking personalities to consider what motivates Barbara Gordon to put on a mask and fight crime alongside Batman instead of putting on a badge and fighting crime with her father. Tiffany Pitcock (Henderson State University) explores how Tim Drake’s issues of abandonment and dethronement have affected his relationship with Bruce Wayne as a father figure.

Teaching Comics Group — Joyce C. Havstad (University of California, San Diego) uses Logicomix as a case study of how puzzling philosophical concepts might be effectively communicated with the help of visual representation in general and comics in particular. Shannon R. Mortimore-Smith (Shippensburg University) draws on classroom experience to show how students can experience a connection to graphic narratives in both unexpected and culturally profound ways. Nicole Rehnberg (California State University, Fullerton) examines how the Phoenix Force in the X-Men universe operates as a metaphor for the role of tutors in a university writing center. Jeff Barbanell (Arizona State University) provides a brisk and entertaining historical survey of the compelling class warfare embedded in the Superman Family of comics and offers a lesson plan for using this content to teach the fundamentals of economic theory. Rich Shivener, John Alberti, and Candice van Loveren Geis (Northern Kentucky University) share pedagogical approaches for using David Mack’s Kabuki: The Alchemy in freshman-level survey courses.

Comic Book Transformations Group — Dan Vena (Queen’s University) explores how transgender and transsexual individuals reconceptualize identity by rereading and trans-ing the figures of superhero culture. Rhea Ashley Hoskin (Queen’s University) analyzes the challenges presented by the genderqueer characters in Sailor Moon and how English translations and Western binaric thought have worked to erase and rewrite queer identities. Sarah Stanley (Queen’s University) argues that Julie Taymor’s surprising invention of Arachne as a mother figure to Spider-Man (and by extension Peter Parker) is central to the failure of Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.

Individual Posters — Anita McDaniel and Dorothy Conley (University of North Carolina, Wilmington) explain the rhetorical influence of the narrative imbedded in the Obama-man image that appeared during the 2008 presidential campaign. Julia Round (Bournemouth University) provides a comprehensive survey of the present state and future directions of comics scholarship in the United Kingdom. Tommy Cash (Henderson State University) examines leadership roles and styles in the Marvel universe and asks what separates heroic leaders such as Iron Man and Cyclops from supervillains such as Magneto and Dr. Doom. Joseph R. Givens (Louisiana State University) considers how Robert Williams, whose work has never deviated from its underground comix roots, has successfully applied the principles of sequential art to canvas. June M. Madeley (University of New Brunswick, Saint John) explains how the manga publishing industry is in a state of transition as it attempts to shut down, compete with, or occasionally cooperate with sites that post scanalations of manga.
Room 26AB

2:30-3:30 Penny Arcade Q&A with Gabe and Tycho— Join Gabe and Tycho (aka Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins) as they return to the SDCC stage. Listen as they take your questions about the comic, the reality series, PAX, Child’s Play, the game industry and more! Room 5AB

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Ben Edlund— Comic-Con special guest Ben Edlund (creator of The Tick, writer/producer, Firefly, Angel, Point Pleasant, Supernatural) tries to understand what he’s been up to for the last four decades, with clips of some of the lively absurdities in which he’s had a hand. Spend an hour in this hot bath of mind and then write home about it! Moderated by Ben Blacker (co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour, host of The Nerdist Writer’s Panel). Room 8

2:30-3:30 Comic-Con How-To: Proper Pitching and Promoting Yourself— Learn what it will take to present a proper pitch to a client or company. Learn about presentation, body language, elevator pitches, standing out, interview skills, and how to make and opportunity when there isn’t one. This is the perfect panel for those looking to make a name for themselves or trying to get their ideas in front of the company of choice. Bryan Tillman is the academic director for Media Arts and Animation, Game Art and Design, Visual Game Programming, Motion Graphics and Visual Effects at the Art Institute of Washington and the author of Creative Character Design. Ballroom 20

Legendary Pictures: Pacific Rim-From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim. When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes — a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) — who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse. Pacific Rim also stars Idris Elba, Ron Perlman, and Charlie Day.

Warner Bros. Pictures: Man Of Steel

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey-From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Jackson returns to Middle-earth in an adventure that begins 60 years before the events depicted in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The first of two films adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular masterpiece, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows titular Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who-along with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a band of 13 Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)-is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. The film’s ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lily, and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

Hall H

2:45-3:45 Marvel: Avengers vs. X-Men— The battle between the Avengers and the X-Men rages on in this cosmos-shattering event! All your favorite superheroes enter-and only one team will emerge victorious. You’ve got questions, and these people have the answers! Editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, chief creative officer Joe Quesada, X-Men editor Nick Lowe, SVP of creator and content development C.B. Cebulski, and others are on hand to lay out what’s going on with the epic battle surrounding the X-Men’s Phoenix Five and the Avengers. Room 6BCF

3:00-4:00 20th Anniversary of Bob the Angry Flower— Join preposterous Bob the Angry Flower creator Stephen Notley, momentous moderator Keith Knight (The K Chronicles), and surprise guests in a rollicking discussion of flower hats, Avengers love, dinosaur insolvency, music in comics, and why drawing a flower cartoon for 20 years seemed like a good idea at the time. Karaoke will remain a fierce possibility! Room 4

3:00-4:00 Take to the Sky: Skybound and the Next Generation of Independence— Things continue to look up for Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics. The premiere original Witch Doctor has sold out nationwide, the all-ages hit Super Dinosaur continues to soar, and Kirkman’s first-ever writer’s room-driven crime drama, Thief of Thieves, is a critical success…what’s next? Join Robert Kirkman as he discusses the future of the imprint with his stable of creators, including the creative teams behind Witch Doctor, Thief of Thieves, and more! Expect only AWESOMENESS. Moderated by Sina Grace. Room 25ABC

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Brecht Evens— Award-winning cartoonist, visual artist, and musician Brecht Evens is a Comic-Con special guest from Belgium. Evens will talk about his graphic novels, which have achieved wide acclaim across Europe and North America, including his latest book, The Making of. Room 8

4:00-5:00 Comic-Con How-To: Establishing Shots: Environments in Visual Storytelling— This presentation explores the various ways that environments and layouts can enhance the full experience of visual storytelling. From inception of concept to perspective grids, all the way to final renderings and color use, artist Elvin Hernandez goes over the process for creating not just effective backgrounds but environments that become key players and characters within your story. Artist/educator Elvin Hernandez is a faculty member for the Media Arts and Animation Department at the Art Institute of Washington, and the author of Set the Action!, a book on background design. Room 2

4:00-5:00 Music and Comics— Music in my comics? Comics in my music? Clearly these are two great tastes that taste great together, as shown by graphic novels Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi, Baby’s in Black by Arne Bellstorfand, Johnny Cash: I See A Darkness by Reinhard Kleist, and R. Crumb’s Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country, as well as such upcoming books as The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song by Frank M. Young and David Lasky and Legends of the Blues by William Stout. Join Abrams ComicArts and First Second for a lively discussion on exploring aural art through the visual art of the graphic novel. Participants include William Stout (author/artist Legends of the Blues), Charles Kochman (editorial director, Abrams ComicArts), Sheila Keenan (senior editor, Abrams ComicArts), Mark Siegel (editorial director, First Second), and Calista Brilll (senior editor, First Second). Room 4

4:00-5:00 Oddball Comics Live: Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n Roll!— Award-winning cartoonist Scott Shaw! (Annoying Orange, Simpsons Comics, Sonic The Hedgehog, Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!) returns to Comic-Con with an extra-lurid, extra-funny, new edition of his popular show featuring “the craziest comic books ever published”-including those notorious “crotch-centric” covers from issues of Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane! Even if you’ve seen some of these comic book covers many times before, when you see them blown up to the size of the side of a barn, you’ll be amazed and delighted at the unbelievably hilarious hidden-in-plain-sight imagery that’s revealed! See why Stan Lee says, “Wow, True Believers, I thought I’d seen it all, but Scott Shaw!’s hysterically hilarious Oddball Comics Live is the wildest, wackiest exposé of some of the craziest comic books I’ve ever seen! Or, to put it mildly, Scott’s outrageous opuses are a blast!” Room 7AB

4:00-5:00 BOOM! Studios/KaBOOM!/BOOM! Town Panel— Learn what’s next from BOOM! as editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon, managing editor Bryce Carlson, and creators Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (The Hypernaturals), Sam Humphries (Fanboys vs. Zombies, Higher Earth), Shannon Wheeler (I Thought You Would Be Funnier), and Grace Randolph (Supurbia) run down the most exciting new projects and reveal upcoming titles from BOOM! Studios, KaBOOM!, and BOOM! Town. This is a panel you won’t want to miss! Room 9

4:00-5:00 Writing for Comics, Part 1— Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo) and former Marvel and IDW editor and comics writer Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) present an honest and informative discussion on the art of writing for comics. Topics include process, enhancing creativity, and keeping your work honest. Want to write comics? This is the place to start! Hosted by Comics Experience. (This is part 1 of a 2-part panel that continues tonight at 7:00.) Room 11AB

4:00-5:00 Heroic Visions: Sergei Eisenstein’s Nevsky from Screen to Panel— Pioneering filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein developed many storytelling techniques that revolutionized film and have influenced comics. The new graphic novel by Ben McCool and Mario Guevara based on his classic motion picture Alexander Nevsky not only presents a timeless story of heroic deeds but highlights the way film and comics interact and influence one another. Writer Ben McCool (Choker, Nevsky), historian Steve Saffel, director/writer Scott Tuft (Severed), and some very special guests explore visual storytelling through the ages. Hosted by Russ Films. Room 23ABC

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Joe Jusko— Comic-Con special guest illustrator Joe Jusko talks about his career as one of the comics world’s premiere painters. Jusko’s work includes an incredible series of Edgar Rice Burroughs paintings, his Marvel Masterpiece card series, and hundreds of covers. Room 8

4:30-5:30 The Legacy of Harvey Pekar— J. T. Waldman (Megillat Esther) discusses the legacy of Harvey Pekar’s work through the lens of the just-released memoir with Waldman, Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me. Told over the course of a single day in Cleveland, the book explores Pekar’s loss of faith in the modern state of Israel. Waldman discusses this work and the mark Pekar has made on graphic memoir. Room 26AB

5:00-6:00 Comics of the African Diaspora— Actress Robin Givens (Boomerang) moderates a discussion surrounding the history of popular but obscure comic book creators and characters from several African countries and whether some of the superheroes they created may offer new opportunities for the comic and movie industries. Kevin Grevioux (co-creator, Underworld film series), Lee Daniels (director/producer, Precious), John Jennings (creator, co-author Black Comix), and Damian Duffy (author, Other Heroes: African American Comics Creators, Characters, and Archetypes), participate in this discussion, with Q&A to follow. Room 4

5:00-6:00 Locke & Key— The Locke family has been through a lot so far in the acclaimed series, but the worst is yet to come in Omega, the concluding Locke & Key storyline coming this winter. IDW editor-in-chief and L&K editor Chris Ryall hosts a sit-down with the Locke & Key creators, writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, as they tell you what is coming in Omega, what else they have planned once that wraps, and a few surprises as well. Room 9

5:30-8:00 Gays in Comics: 25th Year Celebration!— The comic world’s longest-running panel celebrates its silver anniversary with an incredible all-star lineup and celebration that spotlights creators, comics, and fans from 1988 to the present. It was once unthinkable that mainstream companies such as DC, Marvel, and Archie would have bestselling and award-winning titles frontlining gay characters such as Batwoman, Northstar, and Kevin Keller. Now, they hire top-level gay or gay-friendly creators, and independent publishers and creators are publishing unequivocal content spotlighting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered characters, to the cheers of the thousands of fans who are out of the comic book closet and those who welcome diversity among comic book protagonists. This year, founding moderator and best-selling author Andy Mangels, chairs a new form of panel, a live documentary that will unfold for the audience, featuring a mixture of commentary, images, music and other surprises! Showcased with live appearances and video messages will be an army of awesome creators who have appeared on the previous 24 panels, including Howard Cruse, creator of Stuck Rubber Baby and Barefootz, founder of Gay Comix, and godfather of the gay comic movement; Roberta Gregory, creator of Naughty Bits and Bitchy Bitch and the godmother of the gay comic movement; Phil Jimenez, amazing artist of Fairest, Astonishing X-Men, and Wonder Woman; Alison Bechdel, creator of the award-winning Fun Home, Dykes To Watch Out For, and the new book Are You My Mother?; Charles “Zan” Christensen, founding member of Prism Comics and publisher of gay-themed Northwest Press; Gail Simone, the writer of Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and the sexually diverse Secret Six; Eric Shanower, respected artist, writer, and publisher of Age of Bronze and Oz books; Joan Hilty, creator of the weekly comic strip Bitter Girl and past DC editor; Ivan Velez, Jr., writer of Tales of the Closet and Ghost Rider; Paige Braddock, the creator of the comic book and newspaper strip Jane’s World; Joe Phillips, artist and publisher of Joe Boys, Star Trek, and The Heretic; Trina Robbins, remarkable writer and artist whose work on behalf of women in comics has helped redefine the industry; Dan Parent, writer and artist for Archie and Betty & Veronica and creator of Archie’s new gay character, Kevin Keller; Wendy Pini, the creator of ElfQuest and Masque of Red Death; Chip Kidd, award-winning author, editor, and designer of books such as Batman: Death by Design, Bat-Manga, and Rough Justice; Patty Jeres, past DC Comics director of marketing communications, and past Prism Comics co-president; Joe Palmer, awesome webmaster of Gay League.com; Ed Luce, writer/artist of the Bear-centric Wuvable Oaf and small press retailer; Jeff Krell, creator and publisher of the long-running Jayson series; Robert Triptow, legendary cartoonist and past editor of Gay Comix; Justin Hall, author of No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics, creator of Glamazonia, and Prism Comics talent chair; Marc Andreyko, author of the fan-favorite Manhunter series and Captain America and Bucky; Sean-Z, erotic artist of Rated-Z Studios’ Myth series; Steve Englehart, industry legend and creator of comics’ first out gay superhero Extrano in 1987’s Millennium; Jon Macy, award-winning writer and artist of Teleny and Camille and Fearful Hunter; Ted Abenheim, the new president of Prism Comics and heroic and tireless fundraiser for GLBT organizations; and Roger Klorese, a past president of Prism Comics and longtime comic and Internet trailblazer. This panel will be chock-full from beginning to end, so be on time or you’ll miss some awesome surprises that we aren’t announcing yet! Afterward, stick around for the celebratory gay comics fan mixer/social, hosted by Prism Comics, with prizes and surprise special guests! Room 6A

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Mark Waid— Comic-Con special guest Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, Daredevil, Thrillbent) hosts a Q&A retrospective on his long career and on his new digital comics venture, Thrillbent — how it’s gone so far and what big developments will be announced at the show. Talk with one of the industry’s most notoriously outspoken figures about the past and future of comics! Room 8

5:30-7:00 Comic-Con How-To: Figure Drawing: Transposing Reality into Fantastical— Ron Lemon’s explores the figure in art and how it has been designed for specific storytelling purposes. He looks at several artists and how they have used the human form and designed it, and how one can approach drawing not by taking from someone else’s style but by examining what makes their art what it is through the artist’s design choices. You will be given many exercises to help explore and create a more cohesive and unique template for your figures/characters in whatever project you are working on. Ballroom 20

6:00-7:00 Archaia: How to Tell a Better Story Through World Building— Are you an aspiring storyteller? Want to know the keys to world building and telling a good story? David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), and Royden Lepp (Rust), three accomplished storytellers who have published or are publishing books through Archaia, present an informative, entertaining panel to show you how world building can help you write and/or draw a better story. From character development to settings and environment to deciding on the right era, this panel will impart valuable insight into what goes into crafting a better story. Panelists will showcase rarely seen sketch art, concept designs, and models to enhance their presentation. Room 9

6:00-7:00 Adobe Photoshop: Insights from the Photoshop Team and Pro Artists— Photoshop’s Daniel Presedo, Chris Cox, and Nikolai Svakhin are joined by artists Brian Haberlin (Witchblade, Anomaly) and Bill Sienkiewicz (Marvel, DC) to discuss Adobe Photoshop, the industry standard in digital imaging. It’s used by professionals worldwide for design, photography, video editing, and more. Prepare for a lively discussion and Q&A. Adobe will be giving away two copies of Photoshop Extended CS6. Room 11AB

6:00-7:00 Best and Worst Manga of 2012— Go to any book or comics shop and you’ll find a ton of comics from Japan in English. But what’s worth reading and what’s not? An all-star cast of comics critics, retailers, experts, and editors assemble to rant and rave about the year’s best manga. Find out what Brigid Alverson (Mangablog, MTV Geek, Publishers Weekly), Christopher Butcher (blogger at Comics212.net, comics and manga retailer, The Beguiling), Carlo Santos (Anime News Network manga reviewer, Right Turn Only), Shaenon Garrity (Narbonic, freelance manga editor), and Deb Aoki (manga editor, About.com) have to say about the best new and continuing titles for kids, teens, and grown-ups. See panelists get super-excited about the best upcoming releases, and see them groan about the year’s most despicable wastes of their reading time. Room 23ABC

6:00-7:00 The Animated Comic App Experiment: Bottom of the Ninth— Storyboard artist (The Avengers, Cowboys and Aliens), animator (The Iron Giant) and creator of Bottom of the Ninth, Ryan Woodward had an idea. What if there was a comic that when the user touches the panels it came alive with traditionally animated characters that breath and speak, a 3d universe that cinematically draws you in with sound effects and an original score? Ryan did it and still has his marbles to share his journey of passion, work, and struggles into an unknown market. Room 24ABC

6:30-7:30 Ted Naifeh and the 10th Anniversary of Courtney Crumrin— You’ve spent 10 years with the always sassy, never sissy Ms. Crumrin, and one question has been burning at the back of your mind that you thought would never be answered. Think no more! Ready your Qs, mind your Ps, and join Courtney Crumrin creator and New York Times bestseller Ted Naifeh as he relives every moment of Courtney’s journey and talks about the thrill of seeing it in color! Room 26AB

7:00-8:00 The Future of Graphic Novels— A look at the not-so-distant future of interactive graphic storytelling — Moderator Harry McCracken (editor at large for Time’s Techland and founder of Technologizer) will discuss with panelists Steve Yatson (senior director of productivity and graphics / product manager of motion artist, Smith Micro Software), Doug TenNapel (creator of Earthworm Jim), Brian Haberlin (co-creator of the Witchblade franchise and style), Olivia d’Abo (known as Star Sapphire in Justice League: Doom), Mike Norton (known for his work on Runways, Gravity) and Daniel Cooney (comics writer/illustrator of Valentine and professor at the Academy of Art University), exactly what’s next in the evolution of comics, the technology behind it and what it means for the comic industry. Room 4

7:00-8:00 Gays Comic Fan Mixer!— Hosted by and benefiting Prism Comics, the nonprofit organization that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered comics, creators, and readers. Mingle with comics fans and creators and stay for the special drawing of a “Comics Gift Basket” and the silent auction of incredible comics items, including original art and more! Room 6A

7:00-8:00 Vertigo: Fables— The annual Fables Comic-Con panel is back and better than ever! With the launch of Vertigo’s critically acclaimed Fairest, there’s no better time to hear what Bill Willingham, creator of the multi-Eisner Award-winning series Fables and Fairest, has to say. Join Bill, artists Mark Buckingham, Lauren Beukes, Adam Hughes, Steve Leialoha, group editor Shelly Bond, and others for a panel that is truly legendary. Room 6DE

7:00-8:00 Writing for Comics, Part 2— Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo) and former Marvel and IDW editor and comics writer Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) present an honest and informative discussion on the art of writing for comics. Take a more advance look into how to craft your stories and get your idea from a notion to the printed page! Hosted by Comics Experience. Room 11AB

7:00-8:00 Writers Unite! Pitching Your Creator-Owned Comics— Creator-owned comics have grabbed the imagination of the comic-reading community all over again and publishers are looking for fresh ideas from a new generation of talent. Listen closely as creators Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun), Ray Fawkes (One Soul), Charles Soule (27), and moderator Jim Zub (Skullkickers) discuss pitching their hit comic series to publishers and offer advice on how to climb to the top of the treacherous submission mountain, along with comic writing techniques and amusing anecdotes. Room 23ABC

7:15-9:15 Comi-Kev: Q&A with Kevin Smith— For like the millionth year in a row, Saturday at Comic-Con’s not over ’til the fat lady sings…and that fat lady is @ThatKevinSmith! Taking the the Hall H stage like he takes the desserts off your lunch tray, the guy in the hockey jersey will A all of your Qs! Query about Comic Book Men, Spoilers, SModcast.com, his book Tough Sh*t, Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, his Fat Man on Batman podcast, or just ask him about stuff he’s got nothing to do with! But get ready to listen because this fatty is chatty! Warning: Kevin Smith throws around adult language like it’s clever. It’s not, but he loves it. A lot. Hall H

7:30-8:30 Unlocking Arkham: The Forensic Psychiatry of Batman’s Rogues’ Gallery— Back by popular demand! Broadcast Thought’s original Comic-Con panel with updated information and insights! Arkham Asylum houses some of Gotham City’s most disturbed villains. But are they truly “insane”? From the vantage point of forensic psychiatrists utilizing real-world psychiatric diagnostic criteria, explore the mental disorders that plague The Dark Knight’s Rogues’ Gallery. Probe the minds of villains such as Two-Face, Riddler, Mr. Zsasz, Maxie Zeus, Harley Quinn, the Joker, and others. Are these characters psychotic, or are they psychopaths? What’s the difference? Learn as forensic psychiatrists H. Eric Bender, M.D., Praveen Kambam, M.D., and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D. discuss the meaning of these terms and explain how criminal defendants are found “not guilty by reason of insanity.” See how Arkham Asylum compares to a real-world forensic hospital. Discover that truth truly is stranger than fiction. Bring your questions, and join the experts as they unlock Arkham Asylum and possibly set some of its “inmates” free! Room 7AB

7:30-8:30 RAW Studios: Past, Present, and Future— Thomas Jane (The Punisher 2004), and Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher Max), take you through the paces on their old and new projects. Topics include the Dark Country GN and the upcoming new books The Lycan and Alien Worlds. Guest panelists James Daly (Bad Planet), and Greg Staples (Bad Planet V2) join the fray. Also video and news on RAW’s upcoming feature film western, A Magnificent Death from a Shattered Hand. Plus a major video game announcement AND a very special surprise for friends of Frank! Talk with Q&A, moderated by Jane and Bradstreet. Room 26AB

7:30-9:30 CBLDF Live Art Auction— The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund hosts its biggest auction of the year: Comic-Con Live Art Auction! This year’s auction is sponsored by Things From Another World, and will feature lots for bidding curated by some of comicdom’s top editors, dealers, and fans. With an amazing array of everything from pin-ups, original pages, sketches, and concept art, there is something for every taste and every price range, featuring work from such luminaries as Walter Simonson, Frank Quitely, Gabriel Hardman, Tim Sale, Francesco Francavilla, Francis Manapul, Jeffery Brown, David Lloyd, Scott Hampton, Terry Dodson, Mike Deodato, Gabriel Bá, Fábio Moon, Charlie Adlard, and many, many more! Preview images and bidding instructions are available to see at www.cbldf.org/sdcc-auction-2012, or at the CBLDF’s booth! Sapphire Room AB, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

8:00-9:00 Occupy Comics: Activism, Kickstarter, and Comics— Get the story behind the historic Occupy Comics project that inspired dozens of top comics pros to take a stand, bummed out Frank Miller, and brought Alan Moore and David Lloyd back together in the same book for the first time since the Occupy-inspiring V for Vendetta. With a star-studded roster featuring Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Art Spiegelman (Maus), Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night), and many more, Occupy Comics raised nearly three times its Kickstarter fundraising goal, with all revenue beyond hard costs being donated to Occupy protesters. Organizational spearhead Matt Pizzolo (Godkiller, president Halo-8) will be joined by contributors Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Tyler Crook (Petrograd, B.P.R.D.), Brea Grant and Zane Grant (We Will Bury You, Suicide Girls), Joshua Dysart (Swamp Thing, The Unknown Soldier), Zoetica Ebb (Biorequiem), Mark L. Miller (The Jungle Book), and others special guests to discuss counterculture art, creating activist comics without being annoying, and tips on how to fundraise for your own comics. Room 4

8:30-11:30 HBO Presents the Comic-Con Masquerade— Fabulous original and re-created costumes crafted by our talented attendees will be showcased on stage before an audience of thousands, with impressive awards and cash prizes bestowed to those judged most outstanding. Doors will open for audience seating at 7:45 pm, but the line will start much earlier! Tickets will be required for seating and will be given out free to those lining up near Ballroom 20 beginning at 2:00 Saturday. Any tickets left over after that will be available at the Masquerade Desk after 4:00. The MCs will once again be writers/artists Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio of Studio Foglio. (Overflow seating available in Rooms 5AB, 6A and in the Sails Pavilion; tickets not required for overflow areas) Ballroom 20